Post-hole atjgeb



0. S. PRESTON.

POST HOLE AUGER.

APPLICATION FILED 0012s, 19x5.

1 ,1 95,724. Patented Aug. 22, 1916,

n1: Nonms PETERS 5a., Pnmouma, WASHING "m. u. c.

ORIE S. PRESTON, OF EFFINGHAM, KANSAS.

POST-HOLE AUG-ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Application filed October 26, 1915. Serial No. 57,913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ORIE S. PRESTON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Etfingham, in the county ofAtchison and State of Kansas, iave invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Post-Hole Augers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an earth boring tool and particularly to onecapable of use a post hole digger. V

The invention aims to generally improve, simplify and provide an articleof this nature which will prove durable in use and which is capable ofmanufacture at low cost.

Among the definite objects of the invention from the novelty standpoint,is the provision of a boring tool which may be placed adjacent a fencepost in order to dig a hole relatively close thereto and another objectis to provide the device of such a construction as to have a removablehandle element to enable the object just mentioned to be accomplished,and further, to provide an article of this nature which will effectivelyoperate on the ratchet principle.

Vith the above and additional objects in view, the invention has beenembodied in one preferred form as illustrated in accompanying drawingsand described and claimed hereinafter.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view of the complete tool partly infront elevation and partly broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is afragmentary elevation of the tool at the, upper portion but at rightangles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the earth boringelement; Fig. 4 is an en larged fragmentary detail view, partly insection, of the ratchet mechanism with the ratchet members disengagedfor illustrating purposes, and Fig. 5 is a detail cross sectional Viewpartly broken away, taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawings, A generally designates theboring section of the tool which is provided with a tubular standard 1adapted to be screwed at 2 to screw threads within a socket 3. Socket 3is part of the boring member proper and as shown, may have a pluralityof screw or auger blades 1. Also a point 5 may be provided and dependfrom a brace 6 for the blades a which brace has cutter blades 7 whichproject beyond the periphery of blades 1 and which are preferablysharpened at edges 8 so as to cut roots or other obstacles encounteredduring boring actions. IVhile I have shown and described this particulartype of auger, it is to be understood that it is by way of illustrationonly and therefore I may use any approved form of anger or boringmember. In addition to the parts above described, section A includes arod or shaft 9 which is disposed at its lower end within the tube 1 andfastened so as to turn said tube 1 therewith by means of a bolt 10. Thisrod 9 is provided with a. handle 11 to facilitate portage of thecomplete tool and which handle is attached to a plate 12 screwed to therod at 13 and fastened against displacement by means of a pin 1stextending diametrically of rod 9.

A11 operating or turning section generally designated B is alsoemployed, having the parts now to be described. Numeral 15 designates acoupling head having sockets 16 interiorly screw threaded so as toremovably receive handle bars 17 at their screw threads 18. Coupling 15has a socket 19 into which removably screws at 20 a tubular standard 21through which the rod passes. Rod 9 also passes through a cap section 22of coupling 15. The top of the cap or crown section 22 is closed as at23, except for the aperture 24 through which the rod 9 directly passes.A coil spring 25 surrounds rod 9 and bears at one end against the top orwall 23 and at its other end against the base of plate 12, exertingpressure against the operating section to force the same toward thetubular standard 1. At the lower extremity of tubular standard 21 isfastened a suitable ratchet clutch member 26, by means of set-screws 27passing through its collar 28 and the standard 21. The ratchet teeth ofthis member are illustrated at 29. At the top of the tubular standard 1,is fastened a ratchet clutch member similar to the clutch member 27,which is fastened in place by tion downwardly, it maintains the ratchetteeth 29 and 82 in engagement when turned in one direction so that theoperating section will turn the boring section. If the space in whichthe tool is operated is limited, after turning of the operating sectionpart of a revolution in one direction, it may be turned in the oppositedirection, with the ratchet teeth disengaging and slipping over eachother against the tension of spring and thereafter again turned forfurther boring action.

I have found in actual use that the tool is very handy where a post holeis to be dug adjacent a standing post and such post is not to be dug.With the post standing, of course, complete rotation of the tool couldnot occur since the handle bars would contact with the post. In such aninstance, I remove one of the handle bars 17 which enables greaterleverage or extent of throw to be obtained with the remaining handlebar.

Since merely the preferred embodiment has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In an earth-boring tool, a boring section, an operating section,engaging ratchet clutch members for the said sections, a rod turnablewith the boring section, and means associated with the rod and operatingsection to yieldingly maintain said clutch members in engagement.

2. In an earth boring tool, a boring section, an operating section,clutch means for sald sections, .a rod turnable with the boring sectlon,abutment means on said rod, and a spring associated with said rod andoperating section engaging said abutment means to yieldingly maintainsaid clutch means in engagement.

3. In an earth boring tool, a boring section, an operating section,clutch means for said sections, a rod movable with the boring sectionextending through the operating section, a plate on said rod, and aspring surrounding said rod intermediate said plate and the operatingsection to yieldingly maintain said clutch means in engagement.

4. In an earth boring tool, a boring section, an operating section,ratchet clutch members on said sections, a coupling for said operatingsection, a rod rising from ORIE S. PRESTON.

Witnesses JAMES M. ELLIs, WILLIAM H. TUCKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of 1acents,, Washington, D. G.

